Victorian Auditor-General's Office

Appendix B. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments

Introduction

In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report, or part of this report, was provided to the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, Victoria Police and Court Services Victoria.

The submissions and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.

Responses were received as follows:

Appendix A. Definition of terms

AAU

Acute Assessment Unit—mental health inpatient unit at Melbourne Assessment Prison.

AMHS

Area mental health service—area-based services providing a range of inpatient and outpatient mental health services.

AOD

Alcohol and other drugs.

ARC List

Assessment and Referral Court List—a specialist court list of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria aimed at meeting the needs of accused persons who have a mental illness and/or a cognitive impairment.

5 Community

At a glance

Background

Corrections Victoria (CV), Justice Health and Department of Human Services (DHS) help prisoners with a mental illness preparing to return to the community at the end of their prison sentences. Community Correctional Services supervises offenders sentenced to community correction, and refers offenders with a mental illness to general practitioners and mental health services.

4 Custody

At a glance

Background

Victoria Police holds in custody people who are arrested and charged until their release on bail, or their transfer to prison. Imprisoned people with a mental illness receive voluntary treatment within prisons. Prisoners may only receive compulsory treatment outside prisons under custody of the Secretary of the Department of Health (DH).

3 Courts

At a glance

Background

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria (Magistrates' Court) has specialist courts and programs to divert to treatment people whose mental illness, cognitive impairment or substance use contributes to their offending. On 1 July 2014 administration and program management resources of the Magistrates' Court were transferred from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to Court Services Victoria (CSV).

2 Police

At a glance

Background

People with a mental illness in the community come to the attention of police as a result of offending, behaviour suggestive of mental disorder, or the effects of alcohol or drugs. Victoria Police is responsible for managing such incidents, and referring people with a mental illness to health services. Emergency services liaison committees enable local police and mental health services coordination.

1 Background

1.1 Mental illness

Good mental health is one of the foundations of a good life and a healthy society. The World Health Organisation broadly defines mental health as 'a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community'.

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